Eric García will return to training normally this Wednesday and aims for the Catalan derby

Eric García aims to return to the FC Barcelona squad for next Sunday's clash in Montjuïc against Espanyol. The 23-year-old player trained normally this Sunday at the Ciutat Esportiva after spending the last week injured.

The one from Martorell missed the duels against Sevilla, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid due to the discomfort in the right abductor that he suffered in the warm-up prior to the clash against Seville. Although the club did not issue an official medical report confirming his injury, Hansi Flick kept him out of the latest call-ups as a precaution.

And the thing is that, during the week, the '24' was not able to train with the group and only this Sunday was he able to exercise normally with the players who did not see minutes during the Classic. In this way, Eric will return to work alongside the group starting on Wednesday, the day set by Hansi Flick for the Barça squad to return to work.

Eric García will have much more competition to return to the XI against Espanyol

For the defender converted into a pivot, the competition will be tougher starting this week to try to return to the culé XI. García started against Villarreal, Getafe, Osasuna, Alavés and would also be from the start against Sevilla.

However, the great level shown by Marc Casadó and the notable recovery of Frenkie de Jong (he came on strong in the second half of the Classic) will mean that the '24' will stay on the bench more than usual so far in 2024/25.

Eric has accumulated 448 minutes of action in 9 games (8 in the League, 1 in the Champions League), with one assist against Alavés and only one card received (the red card against Monaco). Flick will continue to count on him, but his role may be less and less stellar as a result of the returns of the 'heavyweights' (Gavi, Dani Olmo and Frenkie himself).